Golf club and method of making the same



a 2 192 I l 637 735 Aug 7 s. E. COLLINSON GOLF CLUB AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Fileq Jan lz. 192s INVENTOIR. sm/vziyzcm/fism Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES:

I Y STANLEY E. coLmNsoN, or NEWTON CENTER. MASSACHUSETTS.

GOLF cmnjimmmeeeee MAKINGYTVI-IELSAME.

Application filed J a iuaryj 12, 1926. Serial No. 80,708.'

v This invention relates to golf clubs and particularly clubs having a metal striking head.

Heretofoi'e it has been customary to secure the heads of golf clubs to the shafts by a connection in this manner between the head and shaft which will not loosen in use, and when such loo'seness or twisting play appears, the club is useless forthe reason that the player cannot cause the ball'struck therewith to pursuea definite desired course, because he can neverbe sure of the direct angle of contact between the head of'the club and the ball. v I

An object of thisinvention is to provide an improved golf club and method of making the same, by means of which all of the advantagesof a metal head may be obtained, and by means of which the head may be secured tothe shaft firmly and securely in such a mannerth at the head and shaft cannot become separated or have relative movement of any kind, even after long use of the club.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved club and method of making the same by means of which the shaft will always have a specificpredetermined relation to the striking face of the head,

even in quantity production. 1 c

it further objectis to pr vide'an improved golf clubhaving a metalhead connected to the shaft in such a manner that it willnot become loose or separated during use; and which will be relatively simple, strong, durable, uniform and inexpensive."

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of two embodiments of the invention,

and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims. I r p In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a golf club constructed in accordance with this invention; I v l Fig. 2 is an elevation of the shaft of the same; and d F igs. 3 and 4 are different elevations of a modified construction of a shaft. which may be employed in place of that shown in Figs,

landB. V

Referring now to the embodiment illustr'ated'in Figs. land 2, a'tubular shaft 101' suitable'metal, such as steel, ispinch-ed to gether or flattened at one end, asat '2, so as't'o change its cross sectional shape in the head-end portion thereof. This shaft is preferably supported at both endsin asuitrablec'asting form (not shown) having a cavity, for the reception of thecast'metal, surrounding'the shaft intermediate its ends. A suitablemolten metal, such as aluminum or alloys thereof, is then" supplied to the cavity which'solidifies about'the lower end of, and between the ends of theshaft.

When sncha product is rein'ovedfrom the c'astingform, the tip end of the shaftQwhich 'wassupported in theform and which now project's slightly from the bottom of the cast head 8 may be removed'from'the head in any suitable'jma'nner', suchas by filingygrinding, or cuttingyso that the bottom of the cast head will be smooth and fcontinuous as shown in Fig. 1. reason of the non-'circular cross-section of the portionjQ of'the shaft, the cast head 3 cannot rotate of twist upon the shaft, and by reason of the shoulder 4 formed between the pinched in or flattened section 2 of the shaft and the tubular and separation of the shaft and cast'head effectively prevented; The shaft will, of course, bepositioned in the casting form in a particular desired angular relation to the strikingface 6 of the cast'head 3.

By supporting the shaft 1 at both ends in the form, and casting the head thereon between the'ends of the shaft, the inrushing molten metal will not flex or displace the section of the shaft within the casting cavity ofthe form sufii'ciently to vary theangular relation between the axis of the shaft and the striking face G'of the head. Furthern'ior e, any softening of the shaft by reason of the heat'from the moltenmetal will not resultina change in the angular relation of theaXis of the shaft to the strikingface 6,

and therefore one can always obtain clubs having un'if'orm'and desired relation between the axis of the shaft and the striking face 6 of the head. v

In order to avoid injury to the shaft by reason of the heat of the metal being cast thereon, which, for example, might take the life out of the shaft if the latter is made of V steel,"I preferably coat the portion of the shaft to be encased in the head and stem thereof, with a suitable heat resisting preparation, such as asbestos paint, which material is shown by stippling in Fig. 2, before it is inserted into the casting form, and I have found that with this arrangement no 'njury to the steel shaft occurs. The head, f course, may be cast in any suitable man'- ner, such as by sand-casting or die-casting, the anchoring of both ends of the shaft n the casting form being particularly desirable when the heads are die-castthereon, because of the dangerof flexing the encased section of the shaft by the molten metal as it rushes in under high pressure in the die-casting operation.

In Figs. 3 and i I have illustrated another form of the shaft. This modified shaft 7 may be'formed of tubular stock, such as of tubular steel or other metal, and is pinched in at one end as at 8, in a manner similar to the pinching as at 2 in Figs. 1 and 2 and in addition is also preferably pinched in at one ormore other points 9 andv 1O spaced from the portion 8. In this form, however, the pinching is shown as less pronounced than in Figs. 1 and 2 although it will be understood that the pinching may be, if desired, as complete as in Figs. 1 and 2, particularly at the lower end.

The lower end of the shaft 7 may also be treated with a heat resisting material, such as asbestos paint, the same as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, and such a coating is also shown by stippling in Figs.

3 and 4:. The additional pinched points in the shaft of the Figs. 3 and i provide an increase in the locking effect between the shaft and the head, soYthat twisting and loosening of the shaft in the head during use of the club is more effectively avoided.

, In both of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the shafts are preferably so placed in thecasting forms that the pinched or flared portions- 2 or 8 run crosswise of the head, for the reason that a more satisfactory and durable club, and an increase in strength in the connection between the shaft and head are obtained, owing to the usual closeness of the shaft to the end of the head.

I? or example, shown in Fig. 1, the metal betweenthe pinched portion 2 andthe end of the head beneath. the inclined stem 5,.

would be so slight that the shaft might tear 'loose therefroi'n, were it not that increased metal therefor 1S provided by the positlonmg of the flare crosswise of the head.

' It willalso he observed that in accordance with this invention, theshaft may always be positioned in a definite desired anduniform angular relation to the striking face of the head, and that because of the casting operation the clubs may be manufactured rapidly in quantities at arelatively low cost. A

club constructed in this manner will be strong and durable, inexpensive and have a connection between the shaft and head which will not become loose or broken in use, and which will not require an increase in the usual size of theclubs of any particular character. the shafts before insertion into the casting form, and by reason of their support at both ends, and the casting of the metal thereon at a point between its supported ends, the productwill run uniform, that is, the striking face will always have the same angular relation to the axis of the shaft.

It will be obviousthat various changes in the details, which have been herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention, may be lrrade by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1."Ihe method of making a golf club which/includes coating the head end of a metal handle shaft with an asbestos paint, and casting a metal head upon said'treated end, whereby the handle shaft will be substantially unaffected by the-heat from the casting operation.

The method of making a golf club which includes supporting a handle shaft at its ends in a casting form, casting a metal head upon .SillCl shaft lntermedlate of lts ends, and then cutting off the bottomprojecting end of the shaft.

3. The method of making a golf club which includes pinching a portion of the head end of a tubular handle shaft toprovide head end sections of relatively different shapes, and casting a metal head upon said sections, Wherebythe head and shaft will be firmly united against relative twisting and separation.

4. A golf club comprising atubular handle shaft having ahead'cast upon one end thereof, said shaft having portions of the section Within the head pinchedin to provide a non-circular section connected with the remainder of the encased portion by a shoulder, whereby the head will be firmly held against both rotation on and separation from said shaft.

5. Ac golfclub comprising a tubular metal shaft having. a portion adjacent one end flattened somewhat,and a head cast upon said shaft at the flattened end section'and encasing said sectionbeyond the limits of said flattened portion, with the plane of the flattened section extending crossways of the head.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

STANLEY E. COLLINSON. 

